The U.S. Development Academy is back in business, fresh with plot changes and a new cast of characters for the 2011-12 season.  

When we last left it – just two months ago – LA Galaxy was raising the U16 championship trophy while Pateadores claimed the U18 hardware to make it a Southern California sweep. 

And while holdovers from those squads like Justin Dhillon, Murphy Drew, Josh McNeely and Michael Bautista should again figure prominently into the scheme of things, the early focus will be on the new additions to the show. 

For starters, we have new challengers among us in Georgia United and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, each playing their inaugural season in the Academy. 

 

Georgia brings together regional clubs North Atlanta SA, Norcross SA, United Futbol Academy and AFC Lightning and will be led by head coaches Tony Annan (U16) and Ray Tomlin (U18).

The Whitecaps are the latest MLS club to join the league. 

But those aren’t the only changes we’ll see this season. 

Some of the big buzz coming out of the league this year is surrounding the introduction of club ratings. For the first time, Development Academy clubs will be graded on a scale of 1 to 5 stars and the scores will be made public. There’s no exact timetable on the release of the scores. 

In terms of playing schedule, more clubs will lift a heavier load this season. Three divisions will take on a 10-month academy schedule including the Texas, SoCal and Northwest Divisions.

U.S. Soccer Development Academy Director of Scouting and Technical Advisor for the Northeast Division Tony Lepore explained that the three divisions are just the tip of the iceberg. 

“We’re moving towards that with all the clubs next year,” Lepore told U.S. Soccer’s website. “Next year, in the fall of 2012, all the clubs will be on this schedule and I think the exciting part is that we’ll see a lot of the benefits because of the increased time these clubs have with their players.”

Unofficially, the Development Academy season opened last weekend with four games in each age group, but it will be in full force this weekend as a full slate of teams take the field. 

A few of the A-List stars expected to kick off their season this weekend include Jose Ocampo (Crossfire Premier), Holden Fender (Concorde Fire) and Pateadores standouts Oscar Sorto and Roberto Escudero.